81 FR 3323 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; El Paso, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 13 (January 21, 2016)

This action amends Class E airspace at El Paso, TX. Closure of West Texas Airport has made this action necessary for continued safety and management within the National Airspace System. Additionally, the geographic coordinates for El Paso International Airport and Biggs Army Airfield (AAF), are adjusted correctly noted in the Rule section of this document. This does not affect the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3323-3324]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00879]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1074; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-10]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; El Paso, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at El Paso, TX. Closure of 
West Texas Airport has made this action necessary for continued safety 
and management within the National Airspace System. Additionally, the 
geographic coordinates for El Paso International Airport and Biggs Army 
Airfield (AAF), are adjusted correctly noted in the Rule section of 
this document. This does not affect the boundaries or operating 
requirements of the airspace.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 31, 2016. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of 
FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed on line at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications. For further information, you can 
contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 29591; telephone: 202-267-8783. 
The Order is also available for inspection at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of 
FAA Order 7400.9Z at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Shelby, Central Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone: 817-222-5857.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described 
in Subtitle VII, Part, A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, 
the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of 
airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient 
use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it removes Class E airspace at West Texas Airport, El Paso, TX.

History

    On June 18, 2015, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to remove Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at West Texas Airport, 
El Paso, TX, as the airport is now closed (80 FR 34855) Docket No. FAA-
2014-1074. Additionally, the FAA identified an error in the 
geographical coordinates for El Paso International Airport, would be 
changed from (lat. 31[deg]50'59'' N., long. 106[deg]22'40'' W.) in the 
proposal to (lat. 31[deg]48'26'' N., long. 106[deg]22'35'' W.) (80 FR 
34855). The FAA found the NPRM incorrectly listed the geographic 
coordinates for Biggs AAF and El Paso International Airport under the 
Proposal section, but was correctly noted in the airspace designation. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 
2015, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 
2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists Class A, B, 
C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), 
Part 71 by removing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at West Texas Airport, El Paso, TX. This action is 
necessary due to the closure of the airport; therefore controlled 
airspace is no longer needed. Also, the geographic coordinates for El 
Paso International Airport, are changed to (lat. 31[deg]48'26'' N., 
long. 106[deg]22'35'' W.), and the coordinates for Biggs AAF are 
changed to (lat. 31[deg]50'58'' N., long. 106[deg]22'48'' W.), to 
coincide with the FAAs aeronautical data base.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an 
established

[[Page 3324]]

body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments 
are necessary to keep them operationally current, is non-controversial 
and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. It, therefore, 
(1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) does not 
warrant preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the anticipated 
impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that only affects 
air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this 
rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures'' paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (Air)

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

     Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 
10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Z, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and 
effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 El Paso, TX [Amended]

Biggs AAF, (Fort Bliss)
    (Lat. 31[deg]50'58'' N., long. 106[deg]22'48'' W.).
El Paso International Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]48'26'' N., long. 106[deg]22'35'' W.)
El Paso VORTAC
    (Lat. 31[deg]48'57'' N., long. 106[deg]16'55'' W.).

    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface within a 9.1-mile radius of Biggs AAF, and within a 8.4-mile 
radius of El Paso International Airport, and within 2 miles each 
side of the 050[deg] bearing from El Paso International Airport 
extending from the 8.4-mile radius to 13 miles northeast of the 
airport, and within 1.6 miles each side of the 093[deg] radial of 
the El Paso VORTAC extending from the 8.4-mile radius to 7.3 miles 
east of the VORTAC.

    Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on January 7, 2016.
Robert W. Beck,
Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-00879 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P